Hello all. I have just decided to get into this and am starting a fowlr tank this weekend. I have 55 gal tank, fluval 306 canister filter, protein skimmer, heater, 40 lbs crushed coral substrate and 10 lbs live sand, saltwater test kit, refractometer. I will be purchasing marine salt so I can mix the saltwater and some LED lighting this weekend,and also some live rock to start cycling with but is their anything else I am missing??? Any help/tips greatly appreciated!!!
First saltwater tank
- Thread starter djulian645
- Start date
- Tagged users None
steelheader.262
Valuable Member
Welcome to R2R!!!
What are you using for a water source ???
What are you using for a water source ???
Thank you!! That is actually what I'm questioning the most right now, I was told I could use my tap water and let it sit until ph levels read normal so I was going to fill up a empty 55 gallon trash bin and after it sets and all levels read normal, mix the salt in the bin
Kworker
Tang Lover
Welcome to the hobby.. if you have freshwater and this is your first salt tank.. welcome to the salty side.
If your canister filter is brand new and in box, I would return that. Canister filters are generally not used by marine tank hobbyists and often actually hinder your abilities to keep the tank the way you want it.
With that money from returning the filter I would grab yourself a RO/DI unit. It seems the common units people recommend are from Bulk reef supply or Spectrapure. The money spent on the RO/DI unit will save you not only money but time spent having to go to the store just to pick up water.
With that said, I would not use tap water. Even for FOWLR.
I would also suggest looking in a different direction for your substrate. Crushed coral likes to hold on to detritus which can cause water quality issues.
I would finally suggest finding a new local fish store if they suggested you use a canister filter, crushed coral substrate and especially tap water. One thing they did right it seems was suggest a refractometer.
Best thing you could do is take a bit of time to research a few things before you set up your tank. You will thank yourself for doing so.
If your canister filter is brand new and in box, I would return that. Canister filters are generally not used by marine tank hobbyists and often actually hinder your abilities to keep the tank the way you want it.
With that money from returning the filter I would grab yourself a RO/DI unit. It seems the common units people recommend are from Bulk reef supply or Spectrapure. The money spent on the RO/DI unit will save you not only money but time spent having to go to the store just to pick up water.
With that said, I would not use tap water. Even for FOWLR.
I would also suggest looking in a different direction for your substrate. Crushed coral likes to hold on to detritus which can cause water quality issues.
I would finally suggest finding a new local fish store if they suggested you use a canister filter, crushed coral substrate and especially tap water. One thing they did right it seems was suggest a refractometer.
Best thing you could do is take a bit of time to research a few things before you set up your tank. You will thank yourself for doing so.
chickofthesea
Active Member
Listen to Kworker, and keep asking people hear. Lots of knowledge and good advice in this forum. I've found that many lfs don't specialize on the salty side. You may have to get most of your supplies on line because the local shops don't carry the actual items you need so they "improvise" with what they do carry. As suggested Bulk Reef Supplies has excellent equipment and lots of videos to explain things. There are lots of online sources though. Please read read read and you will start right and be successful with lots less effort and less money spent in the long run. Welcome to the addiction!
melypr1985
totally addicted
What they all said. Plus dont forget a couple powerheads. Water movement is important for gas exchange (breaking the surface of the water) and also for keeping detritus from settling so it can get filtered out.
omykiss001
Active Member
strongly recommend some kind of quarantine tank, even a little 10 gallon with waterfall filter on back, a 5 gallon would work if you start with small fish 1 at a time. Read the disease forum to see what can happen if you don't. Nothing goes in my tank without 30 days of observation in QT. Some like to live dangerously, but at $20-$$$$ per fish that's a lot of money to gamble with. With a FOWLR you can't treat the tank with copper and other drugs, but sand and rock can absorb the Cu and you'll have to confirm you are at the correct dose via test kit the correct for what gets absorbed. The rock and sand can then release the Cu back out so you won't be able to keep inverts or corals down the road if you decide to.
